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Apologies for absence were reported from Captain Sir Miles Wingate, The Rt Hon J D Concannon, Dame Janet Fookes, Sir Derek Day, Sir Nigel Mobbs and Professor Sir Peter Shepheard
Welcome to Brigadier M B Anderson, the newly appointed secretary of Sough African Agency, and to Mr P S Blunden and Mr D Webb who were representing Coopers and Lybrand Deliotte.
Appointments
Refers to appointment of Mr Perry Cameron as Secretary for Internal Affairs in New Zealand.
Award
Refers to the awarding of the Royal Horticultural Society's Medal for 40 consecutive years of service to horticulture with one employer to Mr D N Campbell, a Professional and Tchnology Officer in France
Deaths
Reporting of the deaths of Mr Ian Gow MP, Netadj Abu Abdel Kader, Vasuderan Loganathan, and Mr R J T Ewart
Minutes of the 581st Meeting of the Commission and Matters Arising From The Minutes
Circulation of minutes
The Menin Gate Memorial
The Commissions views have been reported to the authorities in Belgium and the Director of Northern Europe Area would participate in future discussions.
Annual Report and Accounts of the Commission 1989-90
Refers to Mr Kennedy's summary of the accounts for 1989-90. The Commission approved the 1989-90 Annual Report, authorised signature of the Statement of Accounts for the year ended 31 March 1990, approved expenditure of the amount of £217,734.
Forecast of Outturn 1990-91
Mr Kennedy discusses the forcast for the current year, and that the £238,000 carried over from the following year meant that the Commission was worse off this current year. However, shadow cuts of some £500,000 had been agreed, and he did not think asking for additional funds was needed.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Superannuation Scheme (1952): - Annual Report 1989-90
The commission took note of the Annual Report of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Superannuation Scheme (1952), incorporating the accounts for the year ended 31 March 1990, which had been adopted by the trustees.
Air Conditioning – Head Office
Update from Mr Kennedy on the progress of installition of the new air conditioning at Head Office. The aim is to appoint a contractor in January 1991, for the work to start in April and finish in August 1991. The staff would not relocate from the building during this time, but move in accordance with where the contractors were.
The Rehabilitation of the Runnymede Memorial Grounds
Recent storm damage provided the opportunity to replace the current planting. Discussion about possible tree species to plant instead.
The Situation in Iraq
Refers to the invasion of Kuwait and its consequences.
Commonwealth-Foreign Joint Committees: Appointment of Members
The Commission approved two appointments and took note of two others
South African Agency: Appointment of a Fifth Member
The Commission noted the appointment of Lieutenant General A J Van Deventer SSA SOA SM with effect from 24 July 1990
Burials and Commemorations
The Commission approved the alternative commemoration of six war burials.
Execution of Documents
The Commission took note of the execution of documents on its behalf
Tours by Commissioners and Head Office Senior Officials
Refers to the visit to Greece and Crete by Admiral Sir Nicholas Hunt. The chairman spoke of his tour of Eastern Europe, and his high appreciation of the standards there. The secretary spoke of his visit to various sites around the United Kingdom. Many of these sites were satisfactory or very good.
Diary
The chairman spoke of the forthcoming Ceremony on Remembrance Sunday at Yokohama War Cemetery.
Other Business
Naming of a Rose Variety
Mr Noakes discusses the rose chosen for use in the Commission's cemeteries. The invitation to suggest a name for the rose had produced a heavy response from Commissioners and staff. The Commission agreeed on 'Remberance'
The Effect of the Unification of Germany on Bilateral and Multilateral Treaties
The secretary reported that the United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office had asked the Commission to convey to member governemnts that the only article of the agreement proposed for deletion made no reference to war graves.
The Commission Film- I Will Make You a Name
In view of the Commission's current financial situation it would not be justifiable to make a new film.
Sir Kenneth MacDonald KCB
Announcement that Sir Kenneth MacDonald would be retiring before the next meeting.
ATTENDEES:
General Sir Robert Ford GCB CBE (Vice-Chairman of the Commission)
His Excellency the Hon Douglas McCelland AC (High Commissioner for Australia)
His Excellency Mr Rae Killen (Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa)
Air Chief Marshall Sir John Gingell GBE KCB
Major General Desmond Smith CBE DSO CD
Admiral Sir Nicholas Hunt GCB LVO
Mr Kenneth MacDonald KCB (Representing the Secretary of State for Defence in the United Kingdom)
Mr R. G. S. Johnson (Representing the Secretary of State for the Environment in the United Kingdom)
Brigadier-General C. M. Curleigh (Representing the High Commissioner for Canada)
Brigadier H. M. Khanna (Representing the High Commissioner for India)
Commodore J. G. Leonard RNZN (Representing the High Commissioner for New Zealand)
ADVISORS:
Professor G T Prance MA DPhil FLS (Honorary Botanical Advisor)
SECRETARY:
Mr J. Saynor JP, Director-General
ALSO IN ATTENDANCE:
Mr P S Blunden FCA and Mr D Webb (Representing Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte)
Mr D Kennedy, Assistant Secretary, Deputy Director-General (Administration)
Mr N.B. Osborn OBE FRICS, Assistant Secretary, Deputy Director-General (Operations)
Mr G.C. Reddie, Legal Adviser and Solicitor
Mr T.F. Penfold, Director of Personnel
Mr A. Coombe, Director of Works
Mr P.J. Noakes BSc MIHort, Director of Horticulture
Mr R.D. Wilson ACMA, Director of Finance
Mr J.P.D. Gee, Director of Information and Secretariat
Mr M. S Johnson, Director of Outer Area
Brigadier M B Anderson, Secretary, South African Agency
Mr G. Campbell-Dykes, Higher Executive Officer (Secretariat)
Miss E Kennedy, Secretariat |